Model of a golf club head for molding

ABSTRACT

A model of a golf club head for casting includes a body having an upper plate with a small thickness. An ankle is formed at an end of the upper plate and at least one rib formed on the upper plate. A casting gate is formed beside the ankle. A casting pipe extends from the casting gate and around the body. Multiple ducts are connected between the casting pipe and the body. The at least one rib is connected to the ducts. Whereby, a duration of molten alloy to form the upper plate is short because the flow velocity of the alloy is quick. At the same time, the density of the upper plate is increased to reinforce its strength and improve its strike sound. Moreover, the overall size of the golf club head is small, such that a mold tree can include more investment molds to increase its capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf club head, and more particularly to a model of a golf club head for molding.

2. Description of Related Art

For improving a center of gravity of a golf club head and reducing a total weight of the golf club head, an upper plate of the golf club head may be made as thin as possible. The minimum thickness of the upper plate by molding is about 0.9 mm. For achieving a particularly lightweight golf club head, a further thin upper plate is assembled on a body of the golf club head by laser welding or explosive welding. Alternatively, the upper plate is eroded by strong acid to become thinner. However, costs involved in laser welding or explosive welding are high, and using strong acid will cause pollution. Furthermore all three methods require skilled personnel that are exposed to hazardous work practices.

With reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, a rough blank of the golf club head (60) has an upper plate (61) and an ankle (64) formed at an end of the upper plate (61). The upper plate (61) has multiple process areas (62) and multiple ribs (63) to divide the process areas (62).

A major casting gate (70) is formed beside the ankle (62). Three casting pipes (71, 72, 73) extend from the major casting gate (70), and respectively are connected to three secondary casting gates (74, 75, 76) formed on the upper plate (61). After molding, the ribs (63) are ground to make a thin upper plate (62). The major casting gate (70), casting pipes (71, 72, 73), and secondary casting gates (74, 75, 76) are block, strips and slices separately molded in respective molding dies.

However, before molding the golf club head, investment molds of the casting pipes (71A, 72A, 73A) must be made and manually connected to investment molds of the secondary casting gates (74A, 75A, 76A). Because the quality of the connection between these investment molds is unreliable, the production yield of the golf club head is low.

Moreover, during molding, contraction cavities may be formed in a wall under intersections of the ribs (63), so the strength of the upper plate (61) is low and the head will generate a sour-sound in striking of a golf ball. The quantity of the ribs (63) is large and a grinding time is long. Furthermore, multiple molds are connected together to form a molding tree for molding. The investment molds of the casting pipes (71A, 72A, 73A) occupy a large space such that a quantity of mold dies in one mold tree is limited, so the capacity of each of mold tree is limited.

Therefore, the invention provides a model of a golf club head for molding to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a model of a golf club head which can be formed with a thin upper plate and is easy to be molded.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a model of a golf club head for molding in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partially cross sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the conventional golf club head; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an investment mold of the conventional golf club head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a model of a golf club head for molding in accordance with the present invention has a body (20). The body (20) has an upper plate (22) with a small thickness. An ankle (21) is formed at an end of the upper plate (22). A casting gate (10), which is a block formed during molding, is formed beside the ankle (21). A casting pipe (30), which is a strip formed during molding, extends from the casting gate (10) and around the upper plate (22).

The upper plate (22) has at least one (three to form as a Y-shape in this embodiment) rib (24) defined on the upper plate (22) to reinforce a strength of an investment mold in conformity with this model. Thus, the investment mold is fully supported by the rib (24) and is prevented from being deformed during dipping.

With reference to FIG. 5, each of the ribs (24) has two protrusions (26) respectively formed at two sides thereof. Two first datum planes (25) are respectively formed between the rib (24) and the two protrusions (26), and two second datum planes (27) are formed outside the two protrusions (26).

Referring back to FIGS. 1-4, multiple ducts (31), which are strips formed during molding, are formed between the casting pipe (30) and the upper plate (22). The ducts (31) are located beneath a split line of the body (20). A cold liquid accumulation area (32) is formed at a distal end of the casting pipe (30). The ribs (24) are respectively connected to the ducts (31).

The investment mold is manufactured according to the model of the golf club head. Multiple mold dies are connected together to construct a mold tree.

In molding, molten alloy is poured from an investment mold of the casting gate and quickly flows through investment molds of the casting pipe, ducts and ribs to form the body (20). Cooling alloy accumulates in the cold liquid accumulation area (32) to prevent the casting gate (10) being blocked.

After molding, the casting gate (10) and ducts (31) are cut off from the body (20). Then, the rib (24) is first ground by coarse rubbers to match a height of the protrusions (26). Afterwards, the remaindering ribs (24) and the protrusions (26) are all ground together by fine rubbers according to the first and second datum planes (25, 27) to finish a glazed surface. Using the protrusions (26) and two-step grinding can prevent the body (20) from being ground excessively and so waste products are prevented.

With reference to FIG. 6, in a second embodiment, the body (20 a) has two arcuate ribs (24 a) symmetric to each other.

With reference to FIG. 7, in a third embodiment, the body (20 b) has only one rib (24 b) extending through the upper plate (22 b).

With reference to FIG. 8, in a fourth embodiment, the body (20 c) has two ribs (24 c) intersecting each other.

With reference to FIG. 9, in a fifth embodiment, the body (20 d) has three parallel ribs (24 d).

According to the present invention, the duration of molten alloy injection to form the upper plate is short because the ribs (24) enable acceleration of the flow velocity of the molten alloy. At the same time, the density of the upper plate (22) is increased to reinforce its strength and improve its strike sound.

Moreover, the overall size of the model of the golf club head is small, whereby a mold tree can include more investment molds. Therefore, the capacity of each of mold tree is high.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A model of a golf club head for casting comprising: a body (20) having an upper plate (22) with a small thickness, an ankle (21) formed at an end of the upper plate (22), and at least one rib (24) formed on the upper plate (22); a casting gate (10) formed beside the ankle (21); a casting pipe (30) extending from the casting gate (10) and around the body (20); and multiple ducts (31) connected between the casting pipe (30) and the body (20), and the at least one rib (24) connected to the ducts (31).
 2. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib (24) has two protrusions (26) respectively formed at two sides of the rib (24), two first datum surfaces (25) lower than the protrusions (26) are formed between the rib (24) and the protrusions (26), two second datum surfaces (27) lower than the protrusions (26) are formed outside the protrusions (26).
 3. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ducts (31) are located beneath a split line of the body (20).
 4. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casting pipe (30) has a cold liquid accumulation area (32) formed at a distal end of the casting pipe (30).
 5. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (20) has three ribs (24) that together form a single Y shape.
 6. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (20 b) has only one rib (24 b).
 7. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (20 d) has three parallel ribs (24 d).
 8. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (20 a) has two arcuate ribs (24 a) symmetric to each other.
 9. A model of a golf club head for casting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (20 c) has two ribs (24 c) intersected to each other. 